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Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by PaulRobinson on Thursday February 03, 2022 @03:30AM (#30190069)
I don't think it's going to die as quickly as you think - it's a pretty sticky product. The network effects that made it attractive might kill it pretty fast when they evaporate, but it's going to be a major player in adtech for at least a decade, which might just give it time to be "saved" by some of the plays they're now pivoting towards.

On the ethics thing: they introduced some mechanisms around this, but the appointment of Nick Clegg to drive this as head of "Global Affairs" was always an eyebrow-raiser for those even slightly politically aware in the UK, and predictably less effective than FB management needed him to be (note: I voted Lib Dem in 2010 because I believed in his leadership - it's what he did next that showed the warning signs).

I think another quarter of decline and we might see a major shake-up, and I wouldn't be amazed to see Whatsapp getting payment (including crypto) functionality as a bit of Hail Mary to build another social network moat.

Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by whiplash451 on Thursday February 03, 2022 @03:52AM (#30190242)
Are we reading the same comment? @randomsearch said it would take decades for the company to decline.
Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by optimalsolver on Thursday February 03, 2022 @09:17AM (#30192664)
Right, but PaulRobinson is thinking in geological time.
Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by pratnala on Thursday February 03, 2022 @03:58AM (#30190293)
WhatsApp already does payments in India (and few other countries?) [1]

[1]: https://www.whatsapp.com/payments/

Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by throwaway473825 on Thursday February 03, 2022 @04:19AM (#30190421)
This is what I see when I click on your link:

> The payments feature on App is not available in this country.

Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by sangnoir on Thursday February 03, 2022 @04:42AM (#30190557)
Are you in India?
Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by throwaway473825 on Thursday February 03, 2022 @06:51AM (#30191302)
No. Given that the link was used as a source, I thought I would see a list of countries where the payment feature is supported.
Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by rvz on Thursday February 03, 2022 @07:46AM (#30191746)
It is currently being piloted in the US and Guatemala. [0] This WhatsApp link also works. [1]

[0] https://www.novi.com/how-it-works

[1] https://www.whatsapp.com/payments/us

Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by nextaccountic on Thursday February 03, 2022 @09:31AM (#30192846)
Also in Brazil
Re:Facebook loses users for the first time by jack_riminton on Thursday February 03, 2022 @07:05AM (#30191408)
I agree, despite this headline, the more I see fb becoming a part of everyday life for the vast majority of people (in the UK). It's amazing how much of what normal people consume and even buy now happens on fb. I wouldn't write them off just yet